Means for producing warp knit fabrics



Sept., 1936. I F, WPLUMB 2,953,877

MEANS FOR PRODUCING` WARP KIT FABRICS Filed Jan, 9,' 1935 14Sheets-Sheet l sept s, ma 'F W PLUME 2,65%?? MEANS FOR PRODUCING WAR?KNIT FABRICS Filed Jan. 9, 1933 14 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.' HMM/unam@Sept. 8, 1936. F. w. -PLUMB MEANS FOR PRODUCING WARP KNIT FABRICS FiledJan. 9, 1933 14 Sheets-Shea?l 5 IN VEN TOR.

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Sept. 8, 1936. A

F. W. yPLUMB MEANS FOR PRODUCING WARP KNBIT FABRICS Filed Jan. 9, 195314 sheets-sheet 5 INVENTOR Sept. 8, 1936. F. W. PLU-MB 2,053577 MEA-NSFOR PRODUCING WARP KNIT FABRICS Filed Jan. 9, 1935 14 Sheets-Sheet 6 yil y/f A ///////7 kf/4 y lum nu "L y A jlnfmwl "LTINVENTOR:

BY W ATToRN Y.

Sept. 8, 1936. F. w. PLUME v MEANS FOR PRODUCING WARP KNIT FABRICS 14Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Jan. 9, 1955 Fl E- l5- lrlcanl.-

l INVENToR.

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Sept. 8, 1936.

F. W. PLUME MEANS FOR PRODUGING WARP KNIT FABRICS Filed Jan. 9, 1935 lE- ll llw 14 sheets-sheet 8 Sept. '8, w36. F. wPLUMB MEANS FOR PRODUCINGWARP KNIT FABRICS Filed Jan. 9, 1953 14 Sheets-Sheet 9 Fl E l E fill/mb,

e IN VEN TOR: @www S'ept. 8, H936., F. W. PLUME 2,053,877

MEANS FOR FRODUCING WARP KNIT FABRICS Filed Jan. 9, 1933 14 sheets-sheet1o IN VEN TOR:

cva/6g@- Sept. 8, 1936. F. w. PLUMB MEANS FOR PRODUCING WARP KNITFABRICS 14 Sheets--Sheefl 1 l Filed Jan. 9, 1955 F1, E Jiri.

ATTORNEY.

.6 i... il Y z Sept. 8,' 1936. F. w. PLUME 2,053,877

MEANS FOR PRODUCING WARP KNIT FABRICS Filed Jan. 9, 1933 14 Sheets-Sheet12 F1 Er' i5v Fics- 5.5-

F. W. PLUME sept. s, 1936..

14 Shets-Sheet 15 Filed Jan'. 9, 1935 xga@ . INVENTOR:

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F. w. PLUME 2,053,877

MEANS FOR PRoDUcING `WARP KNIT FABRICS .Filed Jan. 9, 1933 14Sheets-Sheet 14 Sept. 8, 1936.

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INVENmH. reden Ham@ BY ATTORNEY.

Patented sept. 8, 1936 UNITED 'STATES 2,053,927 MEANS Fon raonncnvc waarxNrr mames Frederic W. Plumb, West Beading, Pa., assigner to NarrowFabric Company, West Reading, Pa.,

a corporation oi Pennsylvania Application January a, 193s, serial No.650,756

Claims.

This invention relates to elastic knitted fabrics of the type employedin the manufacture of surgical bandages, girdles, etc., wherein aplurality of rubber strands are incorporated in the fabric insubstantially parallel relation to each other and extending generally ina direction coursewise of the fabric.

Prior to the present invention it has been common practice to place andtie the elastic strands on and against one face of the fabric, in a.manner giving that particular face of the fabric a .corded appearance,usually quite distinct from the opposite face of the fabric which mayhave the appear-` ance of plain knitted goods or Whichmay be composed oftuck or other fancy stitches depicting some form of design thereon.

Under conditionsof use, it is usually theV corded face of the fabricthat is placed in direct or more or less indirect contact with the skinof the wearer of the garment or supporter composed of the elastic fabricand the tension produced by normal stretching of the fabric under normalconditions of usage causes these cords to be pressed into th skin,frequently causing irritation and discomfort to the wearer. i The objectof the present invention is to provide an elastic fabric wherein therubber strandsv or threads will be incorporated within the fabric,intermediate the opposite faces thereof. 1n accordance with theprinciples of the present invention, the opposite faces of the fabricwill be of a generally smooth character and of substantially the sameappearance and construction throughout, whereby the fabric will be of areversible nature. permittingthe use of either face of the fabric indirect or indirect contact with the skin without causing irritation ordiscomfort to the wearer.

Obviously, the opposite faces of the improved fabric may be plain inappearance or they mayv include designs of similar charactersrespectively without sacrificing the advantages obtained by thegenerallysrnooth surface of the fabric.

45 The present invention more particularly concerns an improved knittingmachine of the at type embodying the use of two independent banks ofneedles disposed and operated in planes substantially parallel to eachother. The improved machine further includes a novel mechanism for llaying the elastic threads inthe center of the fabric as the fabric isbeing knit by coordinate operation of the said two-banks of needles.

The construction and operation of the improved machine will be morefully disclosed hereinafter,

reference being had to the accompanying drawings; of which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation illustrating a general assemblage ofelements of which the machine may be composed;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine illustrated in Fig. 1; f

Fig- 3 is a left end elevation, drawn to an enlarged scale, ofthemachine shown in Figs; 1 and Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectionalelevation taken on the line 4 4, Fig. l; i

Fig. 5 is a front elevation, partly in section,Y illustrating, indetail.- the mechanism employed for controlling thelaying of the elasticthreads in the center ofthe fabric;

Fig. 6 constitutes a sectional plan view taken on the line 6 6, Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a. sectional elevation taken on the line 1 1, Fig. 6

Fig. 8 is a sec'tlonal elevation taken on the line 8 8, Fig. 6; i

Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 9 9, Fig. 6;

Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation taken on the line |0 l0, Fig. 6;

Fig. 11 is a plan view illustrating the relation between a pair of headsoperable across adjacently disposed groups, respectively, of the needlesof the machine, for laying the elastic threads in the fabric, undercontrol of the mechanisms shown in Figs. 5 to 10 inclusive;

Fig. 12 is a sectional elevation taken on the line |2 |2, Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged plan View of one of the heads shown in Fig. 11,being partly in section as taken on the line i3-I3, Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a front elevation of'mechanism arranged to shog thefoundation thread carriers laterally with respect to` the banks ofneedles;

and the mechanism. for controllingcthe threadlaying movements of theheads shown in Fig. 11;

Fig. 15 is a plan view partly in section as taken on the line iE-i, Fig.14;

Fig.l16 is an enlarged plan view of mechanism provided to remove alltension from the elastic threads as the same are laid in the fabricduring the knitting thereof;

Figf-l'l is a front elevation of the mechanism vshown in Fig. 16; Fig.18 is a sectional elevation taken on the line i8-I8, Fig. 16;

Fig. 19 isa. sectional elevation taken on the line |9-|9Fig. 16;l

Figs. 20 to 29 inclusive and 20a to 29a inclusive 2 diagrammaticalyillustrate one cycle involving the laying of an elastic thread and theknitting of said thread into the fabric;

Fig. 30 dlagrammaticsllydllustrates a number of successive cyclesillustrated in Figs. 20 to 29 and 20a to 29a inclusive;

lig. 31 is an enlarged face view of the fabric; an

Figs. 32 and 33 are respectively walewise and coursewise sectional viewsof the fabric. illustrating the rubber strands disposed in the centerthereof, said sections being taken on the lines 32-32 and n n,respectively, on Fis. 31.

The machine in general comprises a left side or end frame l and acorresponding right side or end frame 2 as clearly shown in Figs. l and2.

The side frames l and 2 are spaced apart and tween, and rigidlyconnected at their opposite ends to, the side frames i and 2 are twoparallel substantially vertical Work plates t and l. The worl; plates 6and 'l are spaced apart to provide a slot X through which the fabricpasses, downwardly, from the needles as the successive courses ofstitches of which the fabric is composed are knit by the substantiallyparallel banks of needles 8 and 9 carried respectively on and by needlebars It and il, which operate against the outer opposite faces of thework plates 6 and 'I respectively.

Cooperating' with the banks of needles 8 and 9 are two series of fingersI2 and ll, which together preferably include one finger for each pair ofthe needles arranged opposite each other in the bank 8 and the bank 9respectively, for wrapping individual warp or foundation threads aroundthe needles of the banks 8 and .S in a manner hereinafter described.

The series of wrapping ngers l2 and I3 are rigidly mounted ontransversely extending bars I4 and I5 respectively. The nger bars it andI5 are mounted for longitudinal movement, and for lateral relativeadjustment on and adjacent the lower ends of .rocker arms i6, I

The rocker arms I 6, I6 are secured to a transversely extendingrockshaft I1, by which the wrapping fingers i2 and I3 are adapted to berocked in planes intersecting and substantially at right'angles to theplanes of the banks of needles 8 and 9, whereby the ngers l2 and i3 maybe passed between predetermined needles of the banks 8 and 5.

The finger-oscillating mechanism working in cooperation with mechanismadapted to produce selective longitudinal movements of the hars It andl5, which produceslateral shogging of the fingers I2 and I 3 withrespect to the needles 8 and 9, causes the warp threads, which form thefoundation of the fabric, to be selectively wrapped around the needlesof the banks 8 and 9, to produce predetermined stitch formations onopposite faces of the fabric respectively.

The cooperative actions between the needles ll and 9 and wrapping ngersI2 and I3 are effected by and from a maincam shaft 20, which isrotatably mounted in bearings 2| and 22, carried by the side frames Iand 2 respectively, and

aosaevv in a bearing 23 secured to the front transverse frame B. The camshaft 2l may be continuously rotated from any suitable source of power.In the present instance,` the shaft is driven from and by a motor 25,see Figs. l and 2, the armature shaft 2G of which is suitably geared toa reduction mechanism of any desired construel tion enclosed in atransmission box 2l. From the transmission box 2l extendsa shaft 26, onthe outer end of which is secured a sprocket 29. The sprocket 2S isoperatively connected by a chain 3B to a sprocket Si secured to atransversely amending countershaft 32. Through a train of gears 33, iid,35, the countershat 32 is operatively connected to and drives the camshaft 2Q.

The needle bars I@ and li are guided for vertical movement in bracketsSES secured to the side frames l and 2, which latter may also functionas supports for the work plates S and l.

At each of the opposite ends of each oi' the needle bars I@ and il is anoperating rod therefor, the operating rods for the needle bar lil beingillustrated at 38, 3B, while the operating rods for the needle bar ilare illustrated at 39. The operating rods 38 amid@ are slidably mountedin bearings 3l secured to the said 'side frames l and 2 respectively Therods 3S, 36 of the needle bar l0 are operetive'ly attached, at theirlower ends, to levers or arms tt, llt, while the rods 39 of the needlebar ll are operatively connected at 'their lower ends to arms lll, lll.

The arms et and il are pivctally connected to the side frames l and 2 atfulcrum points d, d2, the opposite ends of said arms being provided withcam followers 33, d3 which ride the peripheral surfaces of cams L36, d4,and if', l5 secured to the cam shaft 2U: adjacent the side frames i and2 respectively.

The cams` 13d, lid, through the arms 6G, dil, control the operation ofthe needle bar l@ and the needles d thereon, while the cams 45, d5,through the arms di, di, control the movements of the needle bar l ihaving the needles 9 thereon.

. The rocking motion of the transverse bar o1' shaft il, which effectsthe rocking motion of the thread or wrapping fingers l2 and i3, iseffected through an arm 46 secured to one end of the transverse rockshaft Il, .adjacent the side frame 2. The arm d6 is operativelyconnected by a link. i7 to an arm d8 having a cam follower 49operatively engaging a cam 5G secured to the cam shaft 2Q.

Longitudinal movement of the finger bars il and l5, for producinglateral shogging of the fingers l2 and i3 respectively carried thereby,is effected by a pattern mechanism illustrated in Figs. l, 2, 5, 14 and15. The pattern mechanism comprises a shaft 5l rotatably mounted inbrackets 52, 52 secured to and extending laterally from the side framel. 'Ihe shaft 5I is intermittently rotated, from the cam shaft 20, bymeans of a pair of bevel gears 53 and 56, the first of which is securedto the cam shaft 2U while the second is secured to the lower end of avertical shaft 5B which is rotatably mounted in bearings 55, 56 securedto the side frame i.

The upper end of the shaft 55 is provided with an actuating and lockingwheel 51, forming one element of a modified Geneva' movement, the secondelement of which comprises a wheel 58 secured to the pattern shaft 5land provided with a series of circumferentially spaced notches withwhich circumferentially spaced angularly shaped projections or teeth ofthe actuating wheel l1 cooperate to advance. the wheel 88 to theextentof one notch for each tooth in the wheel I1, and

to lock the wheel 68 between such advancing movements thereof by theteeth of the wheel 51. Secured to the pattern shaft 8| is a series ofcams or, as in the present instance, a series of sprocket wheels 58,around whichpass pattern chains 80 and 6| composed of low links 82interspersed with high links 62a. The pattern chains 60 and -6| may fitsnugly and completely around the circumference of the sprockets 88, I8to provide, in efect, a continuous cam surfaced pattern drum, asillustrated in Figs. 5 and 14, or the length of the pattern chains mayexceed the circumferential measurement of the sprockets 66 and passupwardly around idler sprockets on a bar 63, or directly around suchbar, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the .bar 63 being supported by brackets64, 64 adjustably mounted on arms 85, 65, in the present instancepivotally attached to theouter ends of the brackets 52, 52 respectively.

- The pattern chains or drums passing around or secured to the shaft 5|are adapted to include lobes or links of various heights, for engagementf with followers 66 and 61 rotatably mounted in slides 68 and 88respectively, which are slidably mounted in the brackets 52, 52.

The slide 68 is provided with a head 10, while the slide 89 is providedwith a corresponding head 1|. The heads 10 and 1| are adapted to beengaged by abutment screws 12 and 18 respectively carried bycorresponding ends of the finger bars I4 and I5 respectively, asillustrated in Fig. 15.A y

The finger bars I4 and I8 are supportedl for longitudinal movement withrespect to the rocker larms I6 by means of short b ars 14, 14 which aresecured'at their opposite ends in brackets 15, 16. The brackets 15, 16are secured to the nger n bars I4 and I5. The supporting bars 14, 14 areslidably mounted in bearings 16, 16, which are adjustably carried by andsecured to lateral extensions 11, 11 of-the rocker arms v|6, |6, wherebythe ilnger bars I4 and I5 may be moved toward or away from each other onthe arms I6, if desired.

The flngerbars I4 and I5 are maintained in A resilient contact with theheads 10 and 1I of the slides 66 and 08 respectively, and the slides 68and 60 are maintained in resilient contact with the pattern chains ordrums 68 and 6| respectively, by means of springs 18 and 19 which arerespectively connected at their inner ends to arms 80 and 8|, see Figs.14 and 15, which are secured at their lower ends to the finger bars `|4and l5 y respectively,while the opposite ends of the springs areconnected to any suitable relatively .fixed portion of the machine. Theupper ends of the arms 80 and 8| are arranged to slide on studs 82 and88 carried by brackets 84 and 85 secured to and extendinglaterally fromopposite sides of the rock shaft I1. 'Ihe arms 88 and 8| function tostabilize the nger bars I4 'and I6 while permitting longitudinalmovement thereof with re spect to the rocker arms I6, on which 'saidfinger bars are slidablyl mounted, it being noted that oneof the arms 80lor 8| is provided at leach of the opposite ends of the finger bars |4and I5 respectively.v However, the actuating springs 18 and 18 areattached to the arms adjacent the sideframe I only.

The foundation warp threads may be fed to the fingers I2 and I3 from anysuitable source.

such for example, as warp beams 86 and 81 (see Figs. 1 and 2) carried bysuitable shafts 88 and trated in Figs. v11, l2 and 13. Thesethread-laying heads 65 are each arranged to traverse a predeterminedgroup of the bank of needles 6 and a corresponding group of the bank lofneedles 6, which cooperate with the group of needles 8 to form anddetermine the width of one of a series of similar strips of fabric whichmay be simultaneously produced on and by the machine.

Each of the heads 95 is provided with `a tube |00` through which theelastic thread passes from a suitable feeding means, hereinafterdescribed, to the strip of fabric in the course of production.

The tube |00 is secured tovone end of a slide 0|,

which is slidably mounted ingvertical extensions` |02, |02 of a block orcarriage |03. The block or 'carriage |03 is slidably mounted on andguided -by a pair of bars or rods |04, |04 which extend l transverselyof the machine substantially parallel to and spaced from the work plate6.

On the outer end of the slide |0| is an adjustable -abutment |05,against one side of which bears one end of a retracting plunger |06. Theretracting plunger |06 is slidably mounted in a bore formed in the block|03 and is backed up by a retracting spring |01. in said bore, whichresiliently maintains the slide |0| and the tube |00 normally in aretracted or outer position, with the inner end of the tube |00 disposedoutside the plane ofthe bank of needles 8. The outward retractingmovement of the slide |0| is limited, with respect to the block |03, bya collar |08 which is secured to the slide |0| and arranged to engagethe upright |02 in which the slide |0| is slidabiy mounted. q The innerends of all the thread-laying tubes |00 are adaptedvto be simultaneouslyprojected longitudinally from their retracted or outer positions intoinner or operative positions wherein the said inner ends of the tubesare disposed in positions substantially in line with and above the upperend of the slot X, formed between the work plates 6 and 1, by means ofarms ||0 (see Figs. 4,

12.) which are disposed in laterally spaced rela tion to each other onand secured to atrans'- versely extending thread-placing shaft 'I'heplacing shaft is rotatablyf mounted in suitable bearings carried by theside rames and 2 respectively. Secured to the thread-placing shaft ||Iis alever ||2 to the outer end of which is pivotally attached one end ofa link ||3 (seel Fig. 4), the opposite end of which is pivotallyattached to the outer end of an arm ||4 having its opposite endpivotally attached at ||5 to a bracket I I6 secured to the backtransverse frame 4. The said outer end of the arm ||4 is provided with aroller or other cam follower ||1 adapted to ride the peripheral surfaceof a cam ||8 which is secured to the main cam shaft 20 of the machine. y

Rotation of the cam shaft 20 periodically rocks the shaft III, causingthe arms ||0 thereon to engage the outer surfaces of the abutments |05of a steel tape or band |20, the opposite ends of.

' rotatably mounted on studs cured to the side frames i and on the tubeslides |8|, whereby the slides |Ei| are moved longitudinally and theinner ends of the tubes |00 are projected inwardly to the plane of thework slot X.

In addition to the in and out movements of the tubes |06 and theirrespective slides mi, the said tubes and slides are arranged to traversesimultaneously and respectively groups ofthe needles 8 9 which cooperateto produce a number of strips of fabric at onetime on the machine. Thetraversing movement of each tube iil, for the particular strip of fabricbeing produced by the group of needles with which the tube iscooperatively associated extends from a position beyond the needle atone extreme end of the group, across the entire group, to a positionbeyond the needle at the extreme opposite end of the group. Uponcompleting each single traversing movement across the said group ofneedles,-

the tube is projected inwardly, as above noted, to align the. threadwith the plane of the fabric in the slot X, whereupon, the group ofneedles, so traversed, will be raised to hold the laidelastic thread ina position intermediate the two cooperating groups of needlesV of thebanks il and 3 thereof, aswill be more fully discussed hereinafter.

The simultaneous traversing of the needle groups by the respectivelaying tubes |09 is accomplished by themechanism shown in detail inFigs. 5 and 6 ofthe drawings.

Each of the tube-carrying blocks or carriages |03 is clamped to an upperhorizontal run il@ which encircle and are respectivelyr secured to theperiphery of an oscillating drum |2i.' The drum or wheel i2| is securedto a shaft |22 which is rotatably mounted in bearings |23 respec tivelycarried by the iront and rear transverse frames 3 and 65. The tape i2@is supported by and moves in a substantially around corner guide rollersik, |25 which are respectively, serespectively. Each tube-carrying blockor carriage |33 is provided with a transversely extending groove |21(see Fig. l2) in which the band or tape i2@ 1 is seated and secured bymeans of a clamp plate |28 which also is disposed within the groove |21.and held rigidly in contact with the tape ite therein by means of boltsISE, whereby longitudinal movement, in either direction, of the tape|20, in the upper run H9 thereof, will slide the tube carriages m3, m3laterally along their guides |34, Init, whereby the 'thread-laying tubes|00 will be correspondingly moved across the groups of needlesrespectively served thereby.

Oscillation of the traversing drum |2|, for

rectangular course actas?? site ends of the drum respectively, andconnecting at their opposite ends with angularly or spirally disposedportions and |62 of the cam groove, whereby rotation of the cani drum|38 will effect longitudinal reciprocation of the slide bar |33, which,in turn, through the rack |32 and pinion |3|, oscillates the shaft |22and the traversing drum |2| thereon; and whereby longitudinalreciprocation of the tape |29 is effected, for producing the lateraltraversing movements, in opposite directions, of the series oftraversing blocks or tube carriages H13, |03 which are rigidly attachedto the upper run HS of the tape |29.

The traversing cam drum |38 is adapted to be rotated from the cani shaft2D, in the present instance, through the medium of a pinion |65 which ismounted on the cam shaft 20 and meshes with a gear |66. secured to thetraversing cam |38.

Liihe traversing cam |38 is provided with trunriions iff and MBrotatably mounted in bearings forrned in or carried by the cross framesand |35 respectively, and the ratio of the gears H55 and |59 is suchthat for each rotation of the Cam shaft 2U the traversing cam |38receives but one-half a revolution. Y

The pinion it (see Figs. 1, 4, 5,'6 and le) is loosely'mounted on theshaft 2Q between athrust collar |69 and a disc |56. The disc is splinedto the shaft 2G and arranged to be moved longitudinaily thereof forlocking the gear U5 to the moving the upper run ||S of the traversingtape cable bar |33. The bar |33 is slidably mounted in cross frames |36and |35 which are secured at their opposite sides, respectively, to thetransverse front and rear frames 3 and A.

Rotatably mounted on the slide bar |33 is a roller |36 which is arrangedto ride in a cam groove |31. formed in the peripheral surface of atraversing drum |38, said cam groove |31 comprising straightcircumferentially extending iwell portions |39 and Mladiacent theopposhaft 3d for rotation therewith. Ii/iovement of the disc 5G in thisdirection is effected by means of a spring |5| lencircling the shaftbetween the bearing 23 and the hub |52 of the disc. The disc is providedwith pins |53, |53 which are arranged to enter segmental slots |56, |58(Fig. 7) respectively formed in the gear |65, whereby the gear and thedisc may be locked together for rotation as a unit.

The traversing clutchformed by the gear i and disc i5@ is adapted to becontrolled by a cam drum or pattern chain |55 secured to or passingaround one of the sprockets il@ secured to the pattern shaft 5|, suchcontrol element having high portions |55a adapted to release the clutch,

by moving the disc ld away from the gear against the'action of thespring Uil and thereby withdrawing the pins |53 from the openings i5@ inthe gear. The pattern element |55 is also provided with low portions|55b which permit ,the spring ibi to move the disc |58 toward the gearM5, permitting the pins |53 to enter the openings |56 in the gear M5 tolock the two elements of the clutch. together for rotating thetraversing drum |38.

The clutch Mb-ii is operated from the control element |55 by means of afollower |55 en" gaging the periphery of the control element |55, saidfollower 5G being .rotatably mounted in one end of a slide bar |51 thatis slidably mounted in the brackets 52.

Pivotally attached to the slide bar |51, at |55, is one end of a lever|59 which is pivoted, intermediate its ends, at |6, to a bracket |6|secured to the side frame The second end of the lever |59 is pivotallyattached, at |62, to one end of a link |63, the opposite end of which ispivotally connected at |66 to the outer end of a control The control arm|65 is secured to the lower end of a vertical shaft |66 which isrotatably mounted in bearings |61 secured to the transverse frame 3.Secured to the shaft. |56 is a yoke arm |68,

vdisc |50.

During the formation of a predetermined number ofstitch courses,determined by the length of the segmental low portion |5512 of thecontrol element |55, the clutch |45-I50 is engaged and eects rotation ofthe cam drum |38, whereby the laying tubes |00 are caused to traversethe groups of needles with which they are respectively associated to layan elastic vthread in each of a predetermined number of successivecourses knit by said needles.

During the knitting of -other courses the clutch U15- |50 is disengagedand the tubes |00 remain in an inoperative position during the formationof a predetermined number of successive courses. determined by thecircumferential length of the high segmental portions |55a of thecontrol element |55.

In order to prevent circumferential drifting of the cam\,drum |38 whenthe clutch |45|50 is rst disengaged the trunnion |48 ofthe cam drinn |30is provided with a flanged brake wheel |1| (Figs. 1, 5, 6, 9), in theperipheral groove of which is tted a band |12. `The opposite ends of thebrake band |12 are secured to the periphery of a hub or collar |13 (Fig.9) which is pivotally mounted on a stud |14. The stud |14 is rigidlysecured in a bracket l|15 which, in turn,

is rigidly attached to the cross frame |35.

Projecting from the` hub |13 is an arm |16,

the outer end of which is disposed in the circular path of a projection|11 carried by a collar |18 which is rigidly secured to the cam shaft20,

whereby the brake strap |12 will be tightened about the brake wheel |11,momentarily, at each revolution of' the shaft 20 which, when the clutchM15-|50 is disengaged, will stop rotation of the cam drum |38 againstmomentum attained by its rotation during operative engagement of theclutch |45|50.

In order to prevent coursewisc contraction and consequent wrinkling ofthe fabric by the elastic weft threads laid therein by the tubes |00thel elastic threadb are fed to the laying tubes L00 in a fully,normally contracted state, devoid of any Y and all tension.

'The distensioning of the elastic thread is accomplished by means ofmechanism shown in Figs. 1,2, 16, 17, 18 and 19, which comprises'a pairof feed rolls |80 and |8| between which the elastic thread Y passes. Thefeed rolls |80 and lei are geared together for one to one rotation,l bygears |82 and |83 respectively secured to the rolls |80 and |8|. Therolls |80 and 18| are secured to the shafts |84, l85respectively. Theshaft |84 is rotatably mounted, adjacent its opposite 4endsrespectively, in a pair of rockingy frames |86 and |01 and the shaft |85is also rotatably mounted in said rocking frames in parallel relation tothe shaft |84. The shaft |85 is arranged for lateral adjustment to andfrom the shaft |84, for determining the pressure of the bite of therolls |80 and |8I on the thread Y, by means of adjusting screws |68. Y

The rocking frames |86 andi. |81 are each secured to a pivot shaft |89(Figs. 1'1 and 18), which is pivotany mounted m a, pair 6r brackets lsu,|90 secured to the upper transverse stringe 5.

Intermediate the frames |86 and |91 the shaft |84 has splined thereto afriction pinion |9|, the peripheral surface of which is adapted toenactas?? hereinafter described. s

gage the fiat side face of a frlction'disc |92, which is rotatablymounted on a stud |93 projecting laterally from a bracket |94 secured tothe stringer 5.

The disc |92 is driven at a constant rate of speed motion being derivedfrom shaft 32 which has fixed thereon a sprocket wheel 20| transmittingits movement through a chain 200 to a sprocket wheel |99 on a shaft |91mounted in bearings |98 on one of the stringers 5, a bevel gear |95fixed on shaft |91 'meshing with a similar gear |96 secured torlsc |92.In order to obthread Y by the rolls |80, 8|, to remove all tension fromthe elastic thread Y as it is drawn from the `source of supply and fedto a laying tube For this purpose, the hub ofthe friction pinion |9| isprovided with a groove 203.1113'` which is mounted a forked arm 204. Thearm 204 projects tain) the proper rate of feeding of the elasticupwardly` from a nut 205 which is threaded on a screw shaft 206.l Thescrew shaft 206 is rotatably mounted adjacent its opposite ends in therocking frames |86 and |81. rlihe screw shaft 206 is provided with acrank 201 by means of which it may be rotated to move the n ut 205therealong, thereby moving the pinion |9| across the face of. the disc|92. pinion |9| is effected when the frames |86 and |81 are rocked tomove the periphery of the friction pinion I9! away from the disc |92against the action of the spring 202, by means of a handle 200 rigidlylattached to the rocking frame |81.

After passing through the feed rolls |80 and |8| the elastic thread YAhands in a free loop in a normally contracted state between a guidetrough 209, attached to the rocking frame |81,

and a thread eye 2|0 (Figs. 12, 13) carried by the traversing block orcarriage |11?.r in which the laying tube4 |00 is operatively mounted.

The fabric, after knitting, passes downwardly through the work slot Xand between or around any desired varrangement of take-up rolls,generally illustrated Yat 2| I, which may be driven in any suitablemanner to apply `any desired amount of tension to the fabric in theLslot X intermediate the Work plates 6 and 1. The drivingof the take-Such movement of the up rolls may be accomplished by an eccentric chains2 |8 and 2 I8, whereby the finished sheet -or series of strips may bedelivered over a delivery roll 220 at the front of the machine.

In order to produce 'a strip of fabric such as that. shown' in Figs. 31and 32, the high and low lobes |55a and |55b are arranged on the clutchis laid in the fabric in alternate courses of the stitches thereof, andthe pattern chains 60 and 6| are provided withlinks of various heightsin predetermined vrelation to each other to shog the finger bars |4 andl5 relative to the needle banks 8 and 9 and relative4 to each other in.a manner To produce-the effect shownfin Fig. 31, the

- control element |55 .so that a rubber thread Y fingers I2 on the nngerbarV Il would be divided bar I4.

the arms Illl on the shaft III.

The linger bars Il and i5 normally vwould be moved into a positionwherein the ngers I2 and I3 thereon are in alignment one behind theother, with the aligned fingers i2 and I3 disposed in line withalternate spaces between the needles of each of the banks 8 and 9thereof, as shown in Fig. 20a. The thread-laying tube IBG at this timeis at one side of and beyond the last needle in the group and the threadY is extending from the selvage edge of the fabric Z in the slot Xdirect to the inner end of the tube.

With the clutch l MI5-I5!! engaged the irt movement` of the shaft 20will cause the tube I to traverse the bank oi needles 3 from the position at one side of the group o! needles, as shown in Fig. 20a, to theiull line position at the opposite side of the group of needles B, asshown in Fig. 21a, the elastic thread Y extending from one side of thefabric Z to the tube at an angle relative to the plane oi the fabric Zin the slot X.

The carriage |03 is theny in line with one oi The shaft SII is thenrocked and the tube IUD is thereby moved inwardly from the full positionin Fig. 21a to the dotted line position in said figure, whereby thethread Y is placed in parallel relation to the plane of the fabric Z, toform the first elastic strand Y1 in the fabric Z.

The clutch Iii-50 is then disengaged and the brake i12 is applied tostop the traversingcam druml |38.

rihe needles 8 then rise as shown in Fig. 2l. whereupon the shaft HI isrocked in an opposite direction and the tube It@ is thereby permitted toretract under control oi its retracting spring |88, leaving the threadY1 behind the needles 0, and lying on top of a previously formed courseoi' stitches then hanging on the needles 8 and Q and by which thepreviously formed fabric Z is suspended in the slot X between the workplates and on the upper edges oi `which the said previously formedcourse of stitches are resting.

The ngers It--It are then rocked to the left. as shown in Fig. 22, thesaid ngers passing between the needles throgh the alternate spacestherebetween as above noted,

VThe pattern chains 60, SI then move to produce a laterally shogging ofthe linger bars I8 and it in opposite directions to the extent oi oneneedle space, as shown in Fig. 22a. l

The shaft W is then rocked in an opposite direction whereby the ilngersI2 and I3 return to a position` over the slot X, but through needlespaces adjacent and to the opposite side ot gie one through which thefingers passed in their initial rocking movement above noted, as shownin .Figa 23, 23a, whereby each of the fingers I2 and I3 has wrapped itsindividual thread completely around the needle 8 around which it haspassed. AThe needles 8 then descend as in Fig. 24, and the needles 9rise as in Fig. 25.

The fingers I2 and I3 move toward each other and line up in the planewhich they originally ocnosas?? cupied/ afr which they are rockedthrough the bank of needles 8, as shown in` Fig. 26.

After passing through a single space between two adjacent needles in thebank` 6, the fingers I2 and I3 are shogged in opposite directions whichare also opposite to the directions in which the same fingers movedoriginally after rst passing through the bank of needles s, see Fig.26o.

The ngers I2 and I are then rocked bach through the bank oi needles Q,es shown in Fig. 27, whereby the foundation threads carried thereby arewrapped completely around the said adiacently disposed needlesrespectively.

The dngers I2 and I3 then reassume their original aligned positions andthe needles descend as shown Fig. 28.

This completes the tying in oi one strand Y1 of the elastic thread Y inthe center ci the fabric Z, between the nwo banks oi needles Zi and 8.

The clutch MI5-IBG remains disengaged while the needles 5 9 and nngersI-IS go through a second series of movements similar to those justdescribed, whereby a second course of stitches is knitted across theelastic thread strand Y1 between the needles t and d.

The clutch Mb is then reengaged and the cerriages m3 with their tubesitlb traverse the needles in a direction opposi to that above noted forlaying a second strand Y? oi elastic thread in the fabric at a place twocourses removed from the hrst strand, as shown in lf'lg. 29a.

The cmage. W8 is at such time in line with one of the arms itil on theshaft III which is then rocked, thereby projecting the inner end of thetube I6@ into c position in line `with the iabric Z disposed in the worrslot X; to align the newly laid thread with the plane ci Dthe fabricintermediate the two banks ci nwdies t and 9.

iFoe needles Si then rise to hold the newly laid thread in place and thetube Iii@ is again retracted,

the clutch isb-lod about this time being again disengaged while thebrake I'Ei is applied to the drum itt.

.another intermediate course oi' stifheo is then i'ormed to complete thelaying of two elastic threads Y1 and Ya in the fabric while four coursesof stitches are being formed, said four courses of stitches and the twoelastic threads incorporated therein constituting7 a section A of thefabric.

It`will be noted, reference beingf'now had to Fig. 30, that the stitchesoi these four courses in section A ci' the fabric have been formed inlaterally spaced groups a, c, e, o, each comprising two walesin thefabric. each group being formed on a pair of needles al, a2; c1, ci; el,e2; and o1, g2 respectively oi the bank 8 and a corresponding pair ofneedles in the bank Si located directly behind those of the bank il. v

The nger bars Iii-i 5 are now shogged laterally in opposite directionsto an extent equal to half the distance between the groups ca -c, or ca-g, which corresponds to ther distance between two needles of each bank,whereby a finger 82,'ior example, formerly operating in group c movesleft toa position intermediate groups o and c, while the correspondingnger I3 which formerly operated in group c moves right toa positionintermediate groups c and, e.

Correspondingly the nger i2 formerly operating in group e moves left tothe position intermediate groups c and e, now occupied by the nger Itfrom group c, and the finger I3 formerly operating in group a movesright to the position intermediate groups a and c. 4

In other words all the fingers I2 carried by the

